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KENTUCKY RACING SEASON NEAR 0: READY AT LEXINGTON Sport in Blue Grass State to Begin Next Thursday. Mike Hall Works Mile in 1:40 in Preparation for Dixie Handicap Engagement. LEXINGTON, Ivy., April 12. The Kentucky racing season of 1930 will be inaugurated here at the Kentucky Association course next Thursday. With every stall occupied or awaiting the late arrivals for Which reservations have been made there is every prospect for one of the best spring meetings held in this vicinity in recent years. The buildings and grounds are in spic and span condition, the track at its best and a majority of the horses quartered here in fine fettle after a training season of several weeks, in which much progress has been shown by the thoroughbreds intended for early spring racing. Charles F. Price, T. C. Bradley and S. C. Nuckols, comprising the license committee, found it possible to assemble here today and spend a goodly part of the day considering applications of trainers, jockeys, apprentices and agents. Their report goes to the State Racing Commission at the meeting of that body to be held at the Phoenix Hotel here next Svednesday evening, air. Price came from Louisville yesterday and returned this evening. J. B. Respess, breeder and owner of Er-langer, Ivy., is a visitor. He came down to attend the meeting of the committee of horsemen empowered to pass upon the capabilities of applicants for trainers licenses and also spent some time with Art Goldblatt, who has a division of the Respess stable in training here. He confirmed the report that Laffoon and Yeisers Republic is to be bred to about ten mares this season. 3IIKE HALL SHOWS SPEED. Mike Hall, the globe trotting veteran gelding that races for R. M. Eastman, Chicago sportsman, Saturday took a whirl at playing the stellar part in the Iacing rehearsals at the local track of the Kentucky Association. While such a feat added, nothing new to the brilliant career of the Hourless six-year-old, his ability to negotiate a mile in 1:40 under stout restraint dissipated a feeling that his unsuccessful and exacting invasion of English racing last fall might have taken from liis powers. Rugged old Mike never looked better and tinder an impost of about 130 pounds and unaccompanied he went through his fast trial with ease and dash that left no doubt of his readiness to resume defence of his lofty station among the outstanding long distanca racers. Trainer Walter Taylor had him on the fast and extremely dusty track shortly before 7 oclock and after a limbering gallop he inaugurated his work from the stand. He was timed in :25 for the first quarter and, after running a half mile in :49, covered the three-quarters in 1 :15 and closed with a quarter in :25v5 and could have run much faster. Todays trial completed his stiff preparation for a return to competition during the local season opening next Thursday and lie goes from here to Pimlico to try for a second victory in the coveted Dixie Handicap. Trainer Taylor expects to load him for shipment to the Maryland track on Thursday, April 24. Mike Halls long string of notable turf triumphs include a victory in the Dixie Handicap of 1928 and his feat of running the one mile and three-sixteenths of that race in 1 :59 still stands as "the fastest in the record of the race. ALCIKIADES IN FORM. The afternoon prior to his scheduled departure for Pimlico, II. P. Ileadleys crack three-year-old filly Alcibiades will contest in the annual renewal of the Ashland Oaks and if she conies through as her owner and trainer Taylor believes she will she will accompany Mike Hall East for the purpose of contesting the Preakness Stakes. Headley and Taylor are extremely optimistic over the chances of the three-year-old daughter of Supremus and Regal Roman and her fail-tire to qualify for such a severe test as the Preakness would be most disappointing to them. Jockey Clarence McCrossen, who is under Continued on fifteenth page. READY AT LEXINGTON Continued from first page. engagement to Clyde Van Dusen, has been engaged to ride Mike Hall and Alcibiades here and in their Maryland races. Following the Dixie Handicap Mike Hall goes to Churchill Downs for the renewal of the 0,000 added Grainger Memorial Handicap and will be followed to that Louisville track by Alcibiades, which is eligible for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Another noteworthy trial at one mile during the morning was that of J. Ii. Devereaux Kentucky Derby candidate Uncle Matt. In company with the older Devon, J. J. Greelys Camden and Ben Ali Handicaps hopeful, the three-year-old son of King Gorin and Frances M. ran the distance in 1 :41. -He was mildly indulged and, keeping on even terms with Devon, went the quarter in 24, half in A04s and three-quarters in 1:15 Mrs. Payne "Whitneys Stars and Bars showed another display of his keen speed when he ran three-quarters in 1:14, quarter in :23t3 and half in :18. Trainer Edward Haughton has this four-year-old and all others in the big string he is training for the eastern patrons in excellent condition. Star Lassie, the Hieatt Brothers Derby and Oaks candidate, and her older stable companion, Ben Machree, worked a mile in company in 1:44. They ran along well in hand throughout and their efforts widely excelled the mile in 1:43 driving turned in by the same owners Chariot, also eligible for the Derby. The Everglade Stables Dedicate, which has developed an extremely nervous temperament, exhibited improved deportment and John Ward, part owner and trainer of the colt, sent him a mile in 1:45. He ran along in hand all the way and was caught in :25, :51 and 1:18. Other Derby nominees m action included Gallaher and Combs Fiddler, which ran a mile in 1:43 under brisk pressure, and J. B. Res-pess Busy, which worked over a like distance in 1:43 handily.
